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Friebe, Werner (8. Panzer-Division)

Date of birth:
July 12th, 1897 (Droschkau/Upper Silesia, Germany)
Date of death:
March 8th, 1962 (Stuttgart/Baden-Württemberg, Germany)
Nationality:
German

Biography

Promotions:
23.03.1916 Leutnant
01.12.1925 Oberleutnant
01.09.1933 Hauptmann
01.03.1937 Major
01.04.1939 Oberstleutnant
01.10.1941 Oberst
June 1st, 1944: Generalmajor.

Career:
August 26th, 1939: Ia 20. Inf.Div. (mot.);
January 7th, 1941: Chef des Generalstabes XXXXXVIII. Panzerkorps;
January 1st, 1943: Führer-Reserve OKH;
January 5th, 1943: kdrt. als Gen.St.s.Offz. zu den Div.Fhr.Lehrgängen;
April 1st, 1944: Kdr. 8. Pz.Div.;

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
November 19th, 1915
Kreuz für Verdienste im Kriege
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
January 27th, 1916
Eisernes Kreuz 2.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
March 22nd, 1918
Eisernes Kreuz 1.Klasse (1914)
Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Awarded on:
May 18th, 1918
Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz (1918)
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht 4.Klasse, 4 Jahre
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  3.Klasse, 12 Jahre
Dienstauszeichnung der Wehrmacht  2. Klasse, 18 Jahre
Medaille zur Erinnerung an den 1. Oktober 1938 mit Spange
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Awarded on:
September 19th, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 2er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant-colonel)
Awarded on:
October 2nd, 1939
1939 Spange zum Eisernes Kreuz 1er Klasse 1914
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst im Generalstab (Colonel to the General Staff)
Unit:
Chef des Generalstabes, XXXXVIII. Panzerkorps, Heer
Awarded on:
May 30th, 1942

According to the Officer Evaluation report the awarding date is 3-6-1942.
Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 12th, 1942
Medaille
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Oberst (Colonel)
Unit:
Führer, eines gepanzerten Verbandes, 8. Panzer-Division, Heer
Awarded on:
April 21st, 1944
Awarded the Knight’s Cross for his leadership of an ad-hoc armoured unit named Panzerverband Friebe during the time period 21.03.-18.04.1944. It was comprised of all armoured units in its area. Initially assembled around Zloczow, it initially consisted of the I./Pz.Rgt. 10, Pz.Aufkl.Abt. 8, I./Pz.Gr.Rgt. 8, Pz.Nach.Abt. 84, a Kompanie from the Pz.Pi.Bat. 59, Pz.Rgt. 2, I./Pz.Rgt. 11, a mixed Pz.Abt. from the SS-Div. “Wiking”, s.Pz.Abt. 507, A.A. 101 (equipped with Hummels), I./Pz.Gren.Rgt. 73 and the schwere Heeres-Brückenkolonne 849.

In the following weeks the Kampfgruppe would achieve notable successes in the sector of the XXXXVIII. Panzer-Korps. It helped free the trapped 361. Infanterie-Division near Brody, supported the hard-pressed Korps-Abteilung C, destroyed numerous Soviet units and assisted in the relief of the Tarnopol garrison.

Ultimately, over the course of a single month, Panzerverband Friebe would be credited with destroying/capturing…

168 tanks and assault guns
187 artillery pieces
142 anti-tank guns
540 mines
19 mortars
56 anti-tank rifles
38 MGs
4 AA guns
2000+ enemy dead
530 prisoners

The commanding 4. Panzer-Armee said the following of its commander in the aftermath of the battle…

“The successes of the formation are first and foremost thanks to Oberst i.G. Werner Friebe. He fulfilled the requirements of an armoured Kampfgruppe commander like no other, and his boldness inspired the entire unit to achieve the extraordinary.”
Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes

Sources

Photo